Method of preserving live Ceratomia catalpae larvae for use as fishing bait

Abstract

This invention is a method of preserving without any chemical additives Ceratomia catalpae larvae (Catalpa worms) for use as fish bait by cleansing, blanching, and subsequently freezing them in sealed, moisture and vapor limiting bags. The larvae is first chilled as to limit mobility, then picked clean and rinsed with water. The larva is then blanched in boiling water, immersed in cold water to limit cooking and dried. With the use of sterilized tongs, the larvae is then placed in individual plastic bags and frozen within another bag to limit freezer burn. The individual bags of Catawba worms can be thawed out and the worms fished within months after they are harvested with minimal deterioration.

1. A method of preserving harvested  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae for periods exceeding the larvae stage of  Ceratomia catalpae  for use as fishing bait, the method comprising the steps of:
 cleaning a batch of live  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae harvested from Catalpa trees to remove contaminants, including frass excreted by the  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae; 
 introducing the batch of live  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae into heated water to blanch the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae for a period longer that the time required to kill the  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae; 
 cooling the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae after blanching the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae to stop cooking due to blanching the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae; 
 drying the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae; and 
 freezing the  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae are introduced to water at a rolling boil to blanch the batch of  Ceratomia catalpas larvae.    
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae are removed from the heated water prior to tearing of outer skin on the  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2  wherein the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae are blanched for a period of time to kill bacteria on the  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae, to brighten the color of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae, and to toughen outer skin on the  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2  wherein the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae are blanched for a period greater than 10 seconds and less than 20 seconds. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of cooling the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae comprises the step of introducing the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae into an ice water bath. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae are placed in the ice water bath less than 5 seconds after removal from the heated water used to blanch the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of drying the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae comprises the step of blotting the  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of drying the batch of  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae, comprises the step of heat drying at a temperature of approximately 100 degrees for a time of approximately 10 minutes. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  wherein the  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae are packaged in containers to limit the presence of oxygen and are frozen in the containers. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the containers comprise vacuum sealing plastic bags. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae are separated into batches smaller than when blanched when sealed in plastic bags and frozen, and wherein the multiple plastic bags layers are used to reduce freezer burn. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a batch of harvested  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae are separated into smaller batches prior to the blanching step. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1  wherein harvested  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae are cooled prior to cleaning to limit physical activity during further processing. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1  wherein the harvested  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae are refrigerated at a temperature of 50-55 degrees for approximately two hours after harvesting and before cleaning to limit physical activity during further processing. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1  wherein the  ceratomia catalpae  larvae are preserved without addition of chemical preservatives. 
     
     
       17. A method of preserving  Ceratomia catalpae  larva without the use of chemical additives with an extended freezer life that is comprised of:
 a) harvesting the larvae from the group of trees comprising deciduous  Catalpa speciosa, Catalpa bignonioides, Catalpa ovata  (also known as  Catalpa kaempferi ) and  Catalpa bungei  trees, and refrigerating the harvested  Ceratomia catalpae  larva for approximately 2 hours to limit their physical activity; 
 b) pre rinsing the said larvae in a bucket, so that the frass of the larvae falls to the bottom of the bucket; 
 c) hand picking debris, including leaves or sticks out of the larvae that may have accumulated during harvesting; 
 d) rinsing the larvae in a sink as to limit the amount of bacteria present on the worms, and clean off any frass still left on the caterpillars; 
 e) introducing live larvae to a blanch bath of rolling/boiling water for approximately 10-15 seconds to reduce any microbiological activity present on the worms, brighten the color of the worms, and slightly toughen the outer skin of the larvae and to kill the larvae; 
 f) placing the larvae processed in step (e) in a bath of cold ice water for 15-20 seconds to cool the larvae and to limit cooking; 
 h) placing larvae on a drying rack to limit the amount of water left on the larvae when frozen, the drying process including at least one of the steps of blotting the larvae dry with paper towels, and drying the larvae in an oven; 
 i) utilizing sterile instruments to place between ten and twelve dried larvae into a plastic bag to limit vapor and moisture transfer and sealing the bags with a heat sealer; 
 j) placing the individual bags into larger bags to limit the amount of moisture loss, and to exclude oxygen while in the freezer; 
 h) freezing the larvae. 
 
     
     
       18. A package of fresh water fishing bait comprising:
 a container substantially impervious to oxygen; and 
 frozen  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae enclosed in the container, the frozen  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae exhibiting substantially the same coloring as live  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae and exhibiting the scent of live  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae, when thawed, and having skin exhibiting substantially the same toughness as the skin of live  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae; 
 the frozen  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae exhibiting an absence of moisture not present in live  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae and an absence of chemical preservatives. 
 
     
     
       19. The package of  claim 18  wherein the frozen  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae have a length of between three and four inches. 
     
     
       20. The package of  claim 18  wherein the frozen  Ceratomia catalpae  larvae are packaged in a container comprising a vacuum bag.